Development of Specific Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses in Children Immunized with Live Rubella Virus Vaccine.

摘要

The development of cell-mediated immunity by Cr51 lymphocytotoxicity was measured over a 42-day period in 12 children immunized with live rubella virus vaccine (HPV-77-DE5) and was compared with the development in serum of hemagglutination inhibition antibody response to rubella. Cell-mediated immunity was detected as early as three days after immunization, reached a maximum between 7-14 days, and declined slowly thereafter. Serum antibody was not detected until more than 14 days after immunization, and then it gradually increased. Two control children remained negative for both tests. An additional six children within the same age group, who presumably had been immunized or infected with rubella previously, had appreciable titers for cell-mediated immunity and hemagglutination inhibition. In comparing the immune responses according to birthweights, cell-mediated immunity was detected earlier in infants who were born at full term (> 2,500 g) than in those of low birthweight. The measurement of specific cell-mediated immunity to rubella virus by lymphocytoxicity may provide a valuable in vitro marker of effectiveness of vaccine and of protective immunity to viral infection.